National Book Awards

Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 15, 2015

Children's author Daniel Handler, who made offensive remarks at 2014 National Book Awards, seems to have come out unscathed by immediately issuing an apology and donating to charity. MORE

Nov. 20, 2014

Phil Kay wins National Book Award for fiction for his short story collection Redeployment, reflecting on his service as Marine in Iraq; New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos wins nonfiction award for Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth and Faith in the New China. MORE

Sep. 17, 2014

Marilynne Robinson, Elizabeth McCracken and Phil Klay are among the writers whose work is on the 2014 fiction long list for the National Book Awards. MORE

Dec. 8, 2013

Dispatch column by Charles McGrath describes the arduous reading schedule he had as a judge for the National Book Awards. MORE

Nov. 25, 2013

James McBride, surprise winner of National Book Award for The Good Lord Bird discusses how he was instantly elevated to level of literary celebrity unmatched in his long writing career. MORE

Nov. 24, 2013

Critics Daniel Mendelsohn and Jennifer Szalai consider the purpose of literary prizes, in light of presentation of the National Book Awards. MORE

Nov. 21, 2013

James McBride wins the National Book Award for The Good Lord Bird, an irreverent, sharp-eyed novel narrated by an escaped slave; McBride, considered underdog in speculation before awards, is shocked; other recipients noted for nonfiction, poetry, young people's literature and American letters. MORE

Oct. 17, 2013

Finalists for the National Book Awards are announced, one month before winners will be named; complete list of finalists noted. MORE

Sep. 20, 2013

Foundation that administers annual National Book Awards, in a bid to generate more excitement for the prize, releases four long lists of nominees in categories of fiction, nonfiction, poetry and young people's literature. MORE

Nov. 15, 2012

Louise Erdrich wins National Book Award for fiction for The Round House, novel about a teenage boy's efforts to investigate attack on his mother on North Dakota reservation; other awards given for nonfiction, poetry, young people’s literature and American letters noted. MORE

Nov. 13, 2012

National Book Awards nominees Kevin Powers, author of The Yellow Birds, and Ben Fountain, author of Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, discuss how they approach writing about war. MORE

Nov. 12, 2012

Organizers of the National Book Awards are trying to transform event's dowdy image into a glamorous one with change of venue, Oscar-style red carpet and celebrity guests. MORE

Nov. 10, 2012

Domingo Martinez, nominated for National Book Award for memoir The Boy Kings of Texas, which recalls his difficult childhood in Brownsville, Tex, visits his hometown for first time in almost 10 years. MORE

Oct. 30, 2011

Craig Fehrman essay recalls abortive American Book Awards of 1980, misguided attempt to recreate the National Book Awards as a type of Oscars ceremony. MORE

Oct. 18, 2011

Lauren Myracle, author of young-adult novel Shine, withdraws from shortlist for the National Book Awards after she was mistakenly named a finalist by the National Book Foundation. MORE

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November 20, 2014, Thursday

Phil Klay, an Iraq war veteran, New York Times contributor and winner of the 2014 National Book Award for fiction, calls for a greater mutual accounting between veterans and civilians about our nation’s recent wars.